Days off per month at ATLAS

[linecheck]

Saw that the application window just opened up at ATLAS. Curious to know how many days off guys are getting on the 767 vs 747. What's the junior base there? Is JFK or ANC senior?

Thanks for the info

LC

 

[captainv]

Saw that the application window just opened up at ATLAS. Curious to know how many days off guys are getting on the 767 vs 747. What's the junior base there? Is JFK or ANC senior?

Thanks for the info

LC

I'm a 767 guy, but it seems like 747 guys fly 17-day patterns fairly regularly. Not so much on the 767, I'm typically gone 14-15 days per month.

ANC, HSV, CVG and LAX are junior on the 747, in that order. I've been on property 1.5 years and couldn't currently hold IAH, JFK or MIA on the 747. CVG is junior on the 767.

 

[linecheck]

By your description, it's about 17 days on, followed by the rest of the month off? So basically, between 11 and 14 days at home per month, if I understand that right. How is the routine once on the road? Pretty busy? Or do the layovers provide some good rest in between flights?

Thanks for the info... greatly appreciated.

LC

 

[Talon757]

By your description, it's about 17 days on, followed by the rest of the month off? So basically, between 11 and 14 days at home per month, if I understand that right. How is the routine once on the road? Pretty busy? Or do the layovers provide some good rest in between flights?

Thanks for the info... greatly appreciated.

LC

You can figure on being out 17 days although sometimes it's less. Sometimes they are all in one block and sometimes they are spilt up. I always try and bid for keeping it in one block because it keeps the travel from home to work down. On the bright side, because of the CTR (Calculated Rig Time) if you do work 17 days you are certain of a little over 18 hours of overtime even if you spend the entire time sitting in Hahn enjoying pils and jaegershnitzel. (hasn't happened yet!)
Crew rests run from minimum to several days. Most are in the 24 to 36 hour range. Keep in mind, these numbers are for the 747.

 

[captainv]

By your description, it's about 17 days on, followed by the rest of the month off? So basically, between 11 and 14 days at home per month, if I understand that right. How is the routine once on the road? Pretty busy? Or do the layovers provide some good rest in between flights?

Thanks for the info... greatly appreciated.

LC

you owe the company 17 days per month. might be one long pattern, might have a few days of home reserve on either end of a trip, might be broken up into smaller pairings, might be a whole month of home reserve. I like bidding 60-day lines, which this time has three shorter pairings. If you were based in ANC and lived in Florida, for example, you could easily spend 2 off days on each end of your pattern commuting.

Domestic DHL on the 767, esp. the MSP-TOL-CVG-TOL-MSP run at night, is as bad as it gets, but you get weekends off. On the 767 internationally, our longest leg is @ 11 hours, so you typically get plenty of rest between flights.

Schedules change all the time, both before the trip starts and once on the road, but you usually have at least a day's prior notice. You're bidding a work footprint more than you're bidding a specific trip.

 

[linecheck]

Thanks very much for the info! It seems like the QOL can be pretty good if you live in one of the bases. Hypothetically speaking, if I were to live in ANC what percentage of the trips involve a DH to the aircraft, versus flying it straight out of base? In this scenario, I would assume there is no commuting on your off-time as you would be living in-base. Thanks again- LC

 

[captainv]

Thanks very much for the info! It seems like the QOL can be pretty good if you live in one of the bases. Hypothetically speaking, if I were to live in ANC what percentage of the trips involve a DH to the aircraft, versus flying it straight out of base? In this scenario, I would assume there is no commuting on your off-time as you would be living in-base. Thanks again- LC

any time a trip starts out of base, you don't have to give up a day off. can't help you with info on ANC trips.

 

[altimaklr]

Is it common or even possible to bid back to back 17-day blocks, so you can get a month off in a row?

 

[ASACAPT]

I have not seen any 60 day lines constructed that way, but I suppose you can work the first 17 day of month 1 and the last 17 day in month 2 effectively giving you approx a month off spread over 2 bid periods.

 

[captainv]

You could, but you'd likely have some free time in base between trips. Heavy rest requirements could make you illegal for back-to-back pairings. Also, you have to agree to having less than 5 days off between trips, and if you have less than 48 hours in base, they get you a hotel (taxable) but not a ticket home.

 

[OrionFE]

What do you pay for health insurance?

 

[unwashed]

2011 Monthly Premium 2011 Monthly % of Premium
Equivalent Rates Crew Contribution Equivalent
Medical Open Access Plus (PPO)
Single $618.45 $154.61 25.0%
Employee +1 $1,236.91 $309.23 25.0%
Family $1,855.37 $463.84 25.0%
Medical Open Access Plus In Network (EPO)
Single $661.07 $125.60 19.0%
Employee +1 $1322.13 $251.20 19.0%
Family $1983.20 $376.81 19.0%
Medical HMO (EPP)
Single $588.95 $111.90 19.0%
Employee +1 $1,177.90 $223.80 19.0%
Family $1,766.95 $335.72 19.0%
Medical ? Out of Area (OOA)
Single $630.83 $88.32 14%
Employee +1 $1,261.65 $176.63 14%
Family $1,892.47 $264.95 14%
Medical ? Safety Net (Catastrophic)
Single $562.08 N/A N/A
Employee +1 $1,124.16 N/A N/A
Family $1,686.22 N/A N/A
Dental PPO
Single $38.29 $11.49 30.0%
Employee +1 $76.58 $22.97 30.0%
Family $114.87 $34.48 30.0%
Dental HMO
Single $24.02 $4.80 20.0%
Employee +1 $41.85 $8.37 20.0%
Family $70.76 $14.15 20.0%
Vision
Single $7.96 $5.54 69.6%
Employee +1 $11.47 $8.78 76.5%
Family $20.57 $15.72 76.4%

 

[OrionFE]

Thank you!

 

[AftCG182]

Are there any ex-Fractional folks over there?

 

[FRACTRASH]

I applied on line twice now and still haven't heard anything. It has been a couple months now. Is there any way to be sure they did receive all your information. It would be nice to talk to a actual person.

I have 10+K and all the Jet/FMS/Glass time they like. I've been with my Fractional company for 10 years. Flew 121 with the regionals before that. How does one stand out?

 

[captainv]

I applied on line twice now and still haven't heard anything. It has been a couple months now. Is there any way to be sure they did receive all your information. It would be nice to talk to a actual person.

I have 10+K and all the Jet/FMS/Glass time they like. I've been with my Fractional company for 10 years. Flew 121 with the regionals before that. How does one stand out?

Great questions, no easy answers.

- it's only been a couple of months. A friend of mine was flying the 747-400 at another company and it took 1.5 years to get the phone interview. If the email wasn't returned, I would assume they received it. If you did some digging, I'm sure you could come up with the phone number of our HR person. Up to you if you want to call and ask if they received your app.

- how does one stand out? an internal rec would certainly help, but plenty of applicants have those as well. I would recommend you give it some time. two months is very, very recent in terms of applying. Plenty of guys have had their apps in for far longer. The number of interview spots is dwarfed by the number of apps. You might stand out simply by being a frac guy, i've met a few here, but all were at other airlines when they came over.

 

[FRACTRASH]

Great questions, no easy answers.

- it's only been a couple of months. A friend of mine was flying the 747-400 at another company and it took 1.5 years to get the phone interview. If the email wasn't returned, I would assume they received it. If you did some digging, I'm sure you could come up with the phone number of our HR person. Up to you if you want to call and ask if they received your app.

- how does one stand out? an internal rec would certainly help, but plenty of applicants have those as well. I would recommend you give it some time. two months is very, very recent in terms of applying. Plenty of guys have had their apps in for far longer. The number of interview spots is dwarfed by the number of apps. You might stand out simply by being a frac guy, i've met a few here, but all were at other airlines when they came over.

Thanks

 

[captain822]

Just curious, how senior is LAX? And how are the LAX trips?

 

[thunderworm]

been applying for almost two yrs and have similar times- nothing. not sure what the code is but for now Ill keep applying and maybe they will get annoyed at seeing my apps and call me.

 

[Russ]

An acquaintance was hired there last year. Compared to those inquiring here, was low time. Under 5K and minimal turbine PIC, most of it being on a single engine TP. I wonder if that might be the target group in an effort to hang on to them as long as possible? Others in this new hire class were low time as well. Who'da thunk having a lot of experience could have a negative associated with it.

 

[i'mbatman]

That's because people with a lot if experience typically are very set in their ways and more resistant to change and learning new things. 4000-6000 hours is a relatively experienced person but still also a relatively clean slate(ie moldable).....15000 hrs will be tougher.....I've witnessed this a my employer......the guys with 10k plus and 10yrs plus at a major had a far tougher time adapting to a new company than the younger less experienced guys.

 

[thunderworm]

That's because people with a lot if experience typically are very set in their ways and more resistant to change and learning new things. 4000-6000 hours is a relatively experienced person but still also a relatively clean slate(ie moldable).....15000 hrs will be tougher.....I've witnessed this a my employer......the guys with 10k plus and 10yrs plus at a major had a far tougher time adapting to a new company than the younger less experienced guys.

I would have to respectively disagree. While there is some truth to your comment I do not believe the statement can cast such a wide blanket that the statement assumes. Maybe someone has higher time but has gotten it by working at several companies thus learning new SOPs each time or has gotten his/her time with several different types. In all there are many ways to get higher time and still prove that one is able to learn new things. Its not that hard to adjust to the new company's SOP although some do have that problem and they should be weeded out in training or interview instead of application.

 

[DC8CRIVER]

An acquaintance was hired there last year. Compared to those inquiring here, was low time. Under 5K and minimal turbine PIC, most of it being on a single engine TP. I wonder if that might be the target group in an effort to hang on to them as long as possible? Others in this new hire class were low time as well. Who'da thunk having a lot of experience could have a negative associated with it.

Atlas has hired pilots with ages and qualifications that are all over the board. 26 years to 53 years old. 2800 to 12k+ hours TT.

Those of us who have studied this issue for a long time can only surmise that you get called when they pull your resume from the top of the stack of qualified applicants. Then you get hired when they interview enough pilots that seem to know a significant amount of information about Atlas, understand the operation and can cope with the time away and schedule changes, and are genuinely nice folks you would like to share a cockpit with for a 14 hour flight (the recommendations help here).

Other than that, there is no secret formula that we have been able to detect.

Just keep updating when your quals change, be patient, and be really, really, ready for the phone call interview and the subsequent online exam immediately after the call. They like pilots who have done their homework and are locked and loaded for the job.

8

 

[johnnyb]

Those of us who have studied this issue for a long time can only surmise that you get called when they pull your resume from the top of the stack
8

Apply every 2 weeks like clockwork.

Trust me.

 

[atpcliff]

There were two people in my class older than 53. They have hired a few FO regional pilots with no Turbine PIC.

I just finished a 3 day trip. I had a one day trip. I have had 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 day trips, and 28 and 31. You can work two 17 day trips back-to-back. You don't need any heavy rest if you don't go to home or base.

I am NYC based, and almost all of my trips do not start or end in base. MIA, IAH and ANC, for example, have many more trips that start and/or end in base. My buddy said it is 2+ years to hold NYC as a base. He started in ANC, then got HSV and most recently CVG (a -400 guy). MIA and IAH have a number of out-and-back trips.

Here are some NYC examples: Start CVG, end MIA. Start DOV, end Kuwait. Start BWI, end Cuidad del Estes, Paraguay. Start LAX end CVG. Start ANC, end ORD. Start CHS, end CHS. Start CVG, end LAX. Start IAH, end IAH. Start MIA, end MIA. Start ORD, end MEL. Start LAX, end LAX.

31 day month, get 14 days off. 30 day month, get 13 days off. You can be extended involuntarily about 3 days to the end of a trip (once a month max). I have been extended twice in about 3 yrs. My first 6 months online at Atlas I average 16 days/month at home. You can do R1, which is Reserve at Home.

Since I airline to trips, I normally leave home on my last day off. Two or three times in 3 years I have had to airline out on my 2nd to last day off. Normally, I get home either one day early, or two days early. Getting home two days early for me has happened a number of times.

I applied in 2007, and got hired in 2010.

Normally, you get one or two nights in a location. Min time is 12 hours, which has happened to me a number of times. Sometimes you can get 4 or 5 nights in a row off in a location. I once got 4 nights in HNL, followed by one leg, then 4 nights off in SYD (Coogee Beach). That is NOT typical!

If you have more specific questions feel free to PM me.

God bless, and good luck...

PS-I am glad I got to see my kids today. I applied at National Air Cargo in 2010, and thought they were going to hire me. When I first heard about the crash in Bagram, the first thing i thought was that it easily could have been me....RIP to the crew, and God Bless the families and everyone else affected....

 

[fandango]

Phone #

I have had several calls lately with blocked id's.....and apparently my phone wont allow voicemails to download without id.....ive been told to expect a call from Atlas.....anyone get calls for prelim, was it a blocked or unblocked #.....thanks..

 

[captainv]

Fandango, I don't believe Atlas uses a blocked number. Still, if you think it was Atlas, call HR. Better safe than sorry.

To add a little to what Cliff wrote, (from a 767 perspective):

worst i've had was two 15-day trips with 3 days off in between. (If you're home less than 5 days, you get paid for the days at home, too)

Haven't had many short trips on the 767, i'd say the average trip is 10-14 days. i've never been extended or had to go in a day early, one advantage of the JFK 767 base - if the trip doesn't start in base you don't have to give up a day off to the commute. CVG would be different.

Min rest for us is typically 10 hours, but you almost always get much more than that. On the 767, expect to spend long layovers in Hahn, CVG or NRT.

I've been here 1.5 years. According to the last bid, I could now (theoretically) hold JFK or MIA on the 747, one or two from the bottom. LAX got smaller and I would've lost ground in HSV. CVG and ANC are the most junior.

 

[BayBum37ft]

I celebrated my 55th birthday (and 18,000 hours) (and I was awake for at least half of that time) while in school for Atlas and the rest of the kids in my class were awesome. We made the bar-b-que and the Beer-Rita famous at the Residence Inn in MIA. We raised the bar for all future classes.

BayBum37ft

 

[b707guy]

Hey, just curious as to what your bid process is like at Atlas? I saw mention of essentially bidding a trip footprint rather than specific trips as well as Reserve. Is it all seniority-awarded? Are the bids done monthly, multi-month, etc? Do all trips start/end within the bid period, or do some trips extend into the next, and if so, is there a limit to how many days or whatever it can carry into the next period? And if so, how is it handled for the next period, as far as conflicts or time off?
Thanks!

 

[bahumba]

Hey, just curious as to what your bid process is like at Atlas? I saw mention of essentially bidding a trip footprint rather than specific trips as well as Reserve. Is it all seniority-awarded? Are the bids done monthly, multi-month, etc? Do all trips start/end within the bid period, or do some trips extend into the next, and if so, is there a limit to how many days or whatever it can carry into the next period? And if so, how is it handled for the next period, as far as conflicts or time off?
Thanks!

Atlas. uses the "magic 8-Ball" system